Display device



Jan. 2, 1934. I H. B. HYAMS 1,941,838

DI SPLAY DEVICE Filed June 21. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INvENToR HERBER T B. HYAM5 q pwe, K W

A TTORNF Y6 Jan. 2, 1934. B HYAMS 1,941,838

DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 21, l929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5 iii INVENTOR HERBERTB. HYAMS e lkq 634 MM A T TORNEYS Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT: cance DISPLAY DEVICE Herbert B. Hyams, St. Paul, Minn. Application June 21, 1929. Serial No. 372,609

3 Claims. (01. 211-136) This invention relates to improvements in display devices, and is particularly concerned with the arrangement of a shelf and shelf-supporting attachment which can be applied to a show case.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for displaying goods, which other. Another object is to provide a knock-' down shelf and shelf-supporting and attaching device of the nature described, which provides sets of parts which can be. quickly arranged in shelf-forming and supporting position. Another object, which relates to the arrangement of the shelves to form a kind of window for the pur- V poses above mentioned, is to provide anelongated top shelf arranged to be substantially just above the level of the head of the clerk, and to provide below it and between it and above thetop of a counter, small shelves separately supported each by one upright of a pair of uprights, which together support an upper elongated shelf. Another object is to provide shelfsupports whichcan be arranged at an angle to correspondingly arrange the shelves at an angle. Other objects are to provide means forquickly adjusting the vertical heights of the shelvesyto provide sockets connectible to any one of a plurality of counters or show cases with which can be engaged the shelf-supporting uprights of this invention, thereby enabling the proprietor to make more economic use of one or more of the attachments by being able to arrange them at different positions in the store and to constantly change their location without being put to-the additional expense of buying extra fixtures, a small number of sockets only being necessary. This feature of the interchangeable attachment on a plurality of counter show cases is a valuable feature of the invention, as is also the arrangement of the shelves at the back of the show case leaving the counter free, and giving a window-like formation for the purposes above mentioned.

The present invention is also to be considered as an attachment, and each one of the standards to which the shelf-supports are attachable is to be considered as an attachment, because each can be separately attached, with display shelves adjustable thereon, or both standards can be attached in a manner to form a window by crossconnecting them by a shelf, and/or by using a shelf or shelves separately attached to each stand- 1 to me.

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ard and also arranged to form awindow through which clear views of customer and clerk can be had, each by the other. This is a valuable feature of the invention. Moreover, the device includes, as well, a simple standard or element hav-. ing means to secure a shelf at different levels,"" along with a socket which can be attached anywhere, for instance in a show window, in the corner of a show window or centrally of a show window.

I am aware that it is old to use glass shelves supported above show cases from the ceiling or from supports not attached to the case, but this type of shelf is objectionable for many reasons some of which are: frangibility, expense and weight.

to have large display capacity). Moreover, it has been the practice to arrange these glass shelves at points inaccessible to clerk and customer, or

if accessibly arranged to obstruct the view of each with respect to the other; The practice of the invention herein overcomes all of the objections of prior devices, for'the same purpose known Features include all details of construction, togetherwith the ideas of: spacing the parts to form a window-like opening, and placing of the goods display elements at levels and at locations accessible to both parties at opposite sides of the case. Other features relate to the'provisionof means whereby a number of cases are equipped to supportthe device of the invention herein in operative relation so that the attachment may be removed from one case, and removably secured to 7 another; and to the idea of slidably adjusting the top and/ or intermediate shelves lengthwise of the brackets. l V I Other objects, advantages and features' will be set forth in the description of the drawings forming a part of this application, and in said drawmgs: v

Figure 1 is a front view of a case showing my invention applied thereto, and illustrating the formation of'the window-like arrangement of the Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1" showing the m5 attachment partlyin section, an'd'showing only a fragment of a show case; ,7 N I a Figure 3 isa fragmentary detail illustrating the preferred form of shelf-supporting arm;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary face view illustrating the relation of one form of socket to one form of upright or standard; a

Figure 5 is a plan section on line 55 of Figure 2 further illustrating the shelf-supporting arm or 115 bracket of Figure 3; and I Figure 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of Figure 2, showing one means for securing the shelf upon the arm in a manner to permit shelf -adjust- Numeral 1 indicates a show case or counter, and numeral 2 generally indicates the upright or standard. In this instanc'e'this upright is formed from a'T-iron having flanges 3, see Figure 4, engaging socket pieces 45. Each socket piece is formed from a single piece of material, bystamping and bending to provide guides and a slot 6 for receiving the flange 7, which projects outwardly beyond the sockets as shown in Figure 12. Each socket is provided with an integral arm 8 secured by a suitable fastening device-9 to the case. A cross pin lolimits downward-movement of the standard in the sockets. The provision of sockets or means attachable to the cases forsecuring ,the uprightsto extend above any case, is a feature of the invention.

Theuprights2 can be attached at the back of the 'case, or to the'sides of the case at a point intermediate its front and back faces. The shelf orshelves, later to be described, and supported by the uprights, are arranged to form with the case a window-like opening through which, when 7 the shelves areloaded with goods, the clerk and customer can have an unobstructed view'of one another, and so that the goods are easily accessible to both from opposite sides of the case. To carryout this feature of the invention the standards 2 have shelf-supported means, inthis instance adjustable thereon, and preferably adjust- :able, along fWitl'l means by whichthey are attached-t0 thestandards. These shelf-supporting means or brackets form' features of theinvention.

The preferred-'form'of'the support'or bracket,'see ;Figures'2, '3 and 5, includesa bodyor attaching portion composed .of elements riveted to an intermediately disposed extension element 16. Each element-15 is provided with two lateral extensions 17' arranged to brace "the element 16 against horizontal swinging motion. Each of these elements'is also provided'with a hook-like extension 19 jadaptedto enter keyhole slots 20,

outstanding relationto standard 2. Piyoted to element,16 is a shelf -supporting arm 25 which maybe of any length either thesame or in an element 21 secured tothe. face of the upright 2. :Theelementsl5 are formed to; provide a A guide'forthe shank 22 of anattaching screw, the head of which is shown at .23, the head being also adapted 'to' enter any keyhole slot and engage therewithto prevent withdrawal, and to obtain clamping action by manipulation of-the thumb nut 24. .The he'ad123 and hook l9 engage in'respective keyhole slots, to secure element 16 in greater. than shelf width; The pivot is shown at 26. This pivot 'has'the form of a machine screw,

anda clamping thumb nut is used to secure the -part25 in adjusted position. The arm 25 can,

' however, beheld in various angular relations by means of a series'of notches" 29 any one of which f is. adapted to be engaged by the projection 30 of lever'311pivoted at 32- upon the-arm 25, see Figure 3. 'It is conceivable'thatin. a broad view of the invention, other means 'for attaching the shelf-supporting arms or brackets could be used. A modification of this meansis shown in Figure 2, and .willbe later described.

A'feature' of this invention includes the arrangement of the uprights at the back of a'show case; andextendingabove the case, and the support-of a single shelf by both uprights in a manher to form with the casing a window-like openiing above-the case through which the clerk and customercanhave an unobstructed viewof one another over a substantial area lengthwise of the case when the shelf is loaded-with goods. T0

wise movement, but it will be understood that the withthe-threads coacting with the slot wall to resist outward withdrawal of the extension. A V nut 51 engaged with thethreads-of the extension en ages the upper portion of the keyhole .slot as shown, and a nut 54 clampinglysecures-thesdevice-in operative position. 'Theshelf 46 may be "secured to the arms 42-43 by bolts 55passing this end, an elongated shelf 35 is used, the construction of which shelf is also a feature of the invention. This shelf is made of a single piece of metal bentupwardly as at 36 (to form a marginal stiffening and retaining flange) see Figure 2, and then bent downwardly upon itself as shown at 3'7 to extend to the opposite side of the shelf or body portion 38, and then bent upwardly and :inwardly again as at 39 to finally form a two- 'is provided-with a pair of elements 40, seeFigure 6, arranged to forma slot in which element'25 ,or its equivalent is engaged so thatthe shelf is slidably adjustable lengthwise of the arm' 25. In Figure-2 the-arm-25 has beenshown with'a'terminal stop lug =41 whichactsto prevent length- 7 V element 25 may be *much longer than the width of the shelf shown in the drawings, so; that the shelfmay beadjustedgasaboveset-forth.

Anotherfeature of-the invention-isthearrangementbf the uprights to formwith-the case a-window-like opening in which an upper shelf similar to'35 is attached, andin which an'additiona'l shelf 'is, or a plurality of such shelves are, carried-by each upright2 ,the individual shelves being wholly supported-byrespective uprights, rather 'thanby 111 two uprights as inthecase of 'the shelf'35, or -its equivalent. In thiscasealso a'window-like'opening is formed through which (when *the shelves are loaded with goods)-the-clerk and customer can have an unobstructed view of onefa-nother, and 5 so that the goodsare easily accessible-to both from opposite sides 'of the case.

"The construction of the brackets or supports for these last;mentioned shelves is a feature of the invention and showsa V modified constructionover the'structu-re o'f"Fig--.

ures 3 and 5. Two angularly related arms -42-.43 are immovably attached to vertical member 44, and brace members '45-'46 respectively-for the arms-4243. The shelves 47 arein this instance substantially triangularin plan with one point of the triangle lying over" the element-'44. The outer side iii of the shelf is curved. It willbe, of course, understood that the configuration maybe varied. The 'ineans for securing the arm :or

bracket to the eiement'21or its equivalent: (a feature of-the invention) consists inthis caseofa threaded extension 50 of the brace45 which passes through the element 44 and engages the lower portion of a keyhole slot 20 as shown inFigure 2,

provides a stop for the element 45 at opposite side of element 44. The head 52 of screw 53 through shelf and-arin, the terminals of. the ele- -ments 4243 are upturned as at56 toform stops is engaging the outer curved surface 48'ofthe shelf. -Of course, 51'16bO1tSi55 may be dispensedwith, and "the shelves simply secured 1 against slipping v by steps 56.

it 18 tot he .fun'derstood that r the surface 'A OI m Figure 2 may well be either at the back orv the end of a case, and that the standard may rise from the sides at points midway between the front and back to increase accessibility, for instance for the customer. When the standards are arranged at the back corners of the case, either on the back surface or on the side surfaces, and when the case is a wide one, of course the shelves may be more accessible to the clerk than to the customer, but in any event the shelves are arranged so as not to obstruct the view of either. As before noted, a number of cases can be equipped with sockets or equivalent devices to receive and support the uprights, so that in this way the uprights are interchangeable from case to case, and all cases are conditioned to receive and support the shelf-forming elements. This is a valuable feature.

It will be understood that a single type of bracket, as shown at the top of the figures, may be used and this is the preferred form. However, the type of bracket shown at the point intermediate between the top shelf and the top of the case is also a feature of the invention although this structure does not as'easily lend itself to a horizontal adjustment of the shelf, or an adjustment lengthwise of the arm, as in the preferred form of bracket.

It will be understood that the uprights 2 can be extended to the floor, and that suitable floor sockets can be provided, and it will be further understood that any suitable means may be used to secure the uprights in operative relation to the case. The principal feature of the invention is the arrangement in reference to the case to provide the window-like opening, and to maintain the unobstructed view. It will be moreover understood that other forms of shelf supports and other means for attaching such supports to the uprights can be used without departing from that feature of the invention which relates to the window-like arrangement of the parts. Some types of knock-down cases are rickety and when this type is used it is better to have the weight of the display device supported directly by the floor, with means to secure the bottom of the uprights against movements with reference to the floor and case, and with means to secure the uprights in vertical position, whether this means attaches the uprights directly to the case, or to some other support.

This invention finds valuable application in combination with counter showcases of the all glass type having a base unit 60 upon which is disposed a skeleton frame including upright elements 62 at the corners, front and back. The case has a heavy glass 63 at the front (and sides) a top slab 54 of heavy glass, and lightweight rear doors, not shown in the drawings. Due to the joints between the base and the skeleton frame or between the base and the glass super-structure (including sides, front and back walls supported by said skeleton frame) the cases become rickety, the tendency being to incline or lean forwardly toward the customers side, when heavily loaded on top with goods. The practice of this invention results in stiffening of the case, and it will be noted that the bottom socket 5, see Figure 2, is attached to the base 60, while the upper socket 4 is attached adjacent the top of the top of the case. Each standard when engaged in this set of sockets acts as a case reinforcing element. It is partly due to this reinforcing featurethat the case and shelf can support unusually heavy loads of display goods on the top of the counter and on the shelf 35, above the top of the counter.

I claim as my invention:

1. A goods display device adapted to be attached to a glass show case which case has a base and upright frame members including corner uprights which support the glass, said device consisting of two standards adapted to be attached to respective corner uprights which are spaced lengthwise of the case, said standards being of a length to extend a substantial distance above the top of the case when attached, socket means for detachably securing each standard to the corresponding upright and to the base, an arm for each standard adapted to overlie and be spaced above the case when the standards areattached, and a shelf adapted torbridge and be supported by the arms and overlie the case, so that the standards and shelf form with the case an unobstructed window-like opening, said socket means being so formed that the uprights are slidably related thereto to allow translation to cause the bottoms of the standards to rest upon the floor, and detachable means for securing the uprights in said socket means with their ends above the floor.

2. A device of the class described adapted to be applied to a glass show case, which case includes a base and upright frame elements including corner elements, said device comprising two standards, one for each of two corner uprights which are spaced in a direction lengthwise of the case, said standards being of a length to extent substantially the full height of the case and a substantial distance thereabove when attached, socket elements a pair for each of the two upright corner elements, said uprights being slidable in said socket elements, an arm for each'standard, a single shelf adapted tobe supported by the arms over the case, means for adjusting the arms to place the shelf at such a level above the level of the eyes of persons standing respectively at the front and back of the case, that an unobstructedv view of one another beneath the shelf and goods may be had.

3. A device of the class described adapted to be applied to a glass show case, which case includes a base and upright frame elements including corner elements, said device comprising two standards, one for each of two corner uprights which are spaced in a direction lengthwise of the case, said standards being of a length to extend substantially the full height of the case and a substantial distance thereabove when attached, socket elements a pair for each of the two upright corner elements, said uprights being slidable in said socket elements, an arm for each standard, a single shelf adapted to be supported by the arms over the case, means for adjusting the arms to place the shelf at such a level above the level of the eyes of persons standing respectively at the front and back of the case, that an unobstructed view of one another beneath the shelf and goods may be had, the members of each pair of socket elements being respectively attached to the upright and the base to act with use 

